Oil seal



H. A. CLARK OIL SEAL Filed Ap Patented .Fume 26, 1928-5.,

UNI

ED STATES HAROLD A. CLARK, OF HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHICAGO RAW- HIDE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Application filed April 30,

This invention has to do with oil seals, such as are adapted to be positioned Within a tubular housing about a rotatable shaft for preventing grease, oil, orl other liquid from owing through the housing beyond a certain point in the same.

The object of the invent-ion is to provide an improved oil seal which may be used quite etfectively in automobiles for preventing the lubricant in the diiferential from flowing out from the ends of the rear axle housing. n

While the improved oil seal is particularly well suited for use in the specific association mentioned, it obviously may be used in other connections with very good results, since the invention, from its .very nature, is capable of rather general application.

The ianged packings heretofore used'as oil seals'in automobiles are objectionable 4in that they will permit a gradually increasing seepage of oil past the saine after they have been in service for some time, since the rear axle is seldom absolutely concentric with the housing, and the opening in the packing through which the axle extends Will in time assume a slightly eliptical shape.

r1`he oil seal of the invention is constructed in such a way as to overcome this diiiiculty. The packing member in Which the axle turns is in sealed engagement with a cage member which is in turn in sealed engagement With the inner Wall of the housing, and the packing member, which is made of exible leather or other suitable material, is constricted snugly about the shaft by an endless coil spring, which encircles the packing member under tension. The packing member, although in sealed engagement with the cage, is shiftable relative to the same, Whereby to maintain a fluid-tight closure irre-I spective of any position into which the packing member is caused to float by reason of the shaft being eccentric relative to the housing.

. One form of the invention is resented herein for the purpose of exel'np iiication,

' but it will of course be appreciated that the lnvention is susceptible of embodiment in otherA variously modified forms coming equally within the comprehensive scope of the appended claims. 5 In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diametric section through a OIL SEAL.

1927. Serial No. 187,723.

housing 14 in peripherally sealed association with the inner wall of the same. The cage has an opening 15 through which the axle 1G extends, and is characterized by a Hat portion 17 and a cylindrical pprtion 18, the nat portion being in sealed engagement with the packing 11, and the-cylindrical portion being in sealed engagement with the housing 14 The packing 1.1 is made of slightly flexible leather or other suitable material, and 1s characterized by a liat portion 19 and a conical portion 20, the flat` portion being in sealed association with the iat portion 17 of the cage, and the conical portion 20, which is distended to more nearly cylindrical form when positioned about the axle 16, being in sealed association with the axle. The portion 19 of the packing is slightly smaller than the portion 17 of the cage, whereby to permit the portion 19 to shift relative to the portion 17.

The spring 12 is an endless coil of spring Wire which encircles the portion 20 of the packing and exerts pressure inwardly against the'same, thereby servlngto hold the portion 20 in fluid-tight association with the axle.

The Washer 13 is positioned Within the cage against the spring, and serves to maintain the portion 19 of the packing against the portionv 17 of the cage. The Washer 'is positioned Within the cage under pressure 1n order to compress the portion 19 of the packing, and is permanently held in such position by a number of inturned ears 21 which are formed Aon the portion 18 of the cage,

lVith the parts assembled in the relation and manner described, the portion 19 of the packing will be maintained in sealed engagement with the portion 17 of the cagev irrespective of the position into which it may be caused to iioat by reason ofthe shaft being eccentric relative to the housing, and the portion 20 of the packing will be maintained in sealed engagement with the surface of A the axle rotating therein. l claim:

1. In a seal, a cage having a flat annular portion, a packing shiftably mounted in the cage and having a flat annular portion, an endless coil. spring positioned against the 10 flat portion of the packing andvencirchng it is engaged by the spring.

2. In a seal, a cage, a sheet leather pack-il ing shiftably mounted in the cage and having a radial flange portion of substantially uniformthickness in 'sealed association with the cage and an axial sleeve portion for sealed association with a shaft, and an endless coil spring encircling the sleeve portion under tension `in lateral 'abutment with the ange .portion or constricting `the sleeve portion on the shaft and holdin the flanged portion against the cage,fsaid s eeve portion being of conical form before application to a shaft and being Vdistensible to cylindrical orm'upon application against both the resistance of the'sleeve portion and that o the spring. i

3. lin a seal, two axially spaced centrally apertured cage members one ot which is provlded at its outer periphery with an axly A l ,reversa extending rim which lits over and interlocks 40 with the outer periphery of the other member, a exible sheet packing which is shift- .able radially Within the space'enclosed by said cage members and has a radially anged portion of substantially uniform thickness in sealed association with the inner face o oneof said cage members and an axially `sleeved. portion of Vsmaller inside diameter than the apertures in said cage members for` sealed association with a shaft passing 6o through the same, and a resiliently yield-V able member Which is clamped under pressure between the `radially flanged portion of said packing and the inner face of the other ot said Acage Vmembers about the axially sleeved portion of saidpacking for maintaining said sealed associations. Y

4. ln a seal, two axially. spaced centrally apertured cage members, a iexible sheet packing which is shiftable radially Within' t@ the space enclosed by said cage members vand has a` radially lianged portlon of substantially uniform thickness in sealed association with the inner face of one of said cage mem.-

bers and an axially sleeved portion of @5 smaller inside diameter than the apertures in said cage members for sealed association With a shaft passing through the same, and a spring member which is positioned about the axially sleeved portion of said packing im and'is clamped under pressure against the radially lianged portion of said packing by the inner -face of the other ,of said cage members. Q p

In testimony whereof l have hereunto 075 subscribed my name. 

